On May 25, Minneapolis and St. Paul erupted after the killing of George Floyd. As fires still burned in huge swathes of the metro area, and thousands of protesters filled our streets, we pivoted the focus of our magazine overnight. We used our next issue to illuminate structural racism and its devastating hold on our state with insight from UMN scholars.
In “The Minnesota Paradox,” we used UMN research to explain how insidious and hidden racism can be, especially in a state that prides itself on its quality of life. However, that vaunted “quality of life” doesn't seem to apply equally to all residents of our state, hence the paradox. People of color face higher poverty, worse health outcomes, unequal educational access, a history of segregated housing, and many other challenges here. Faculty members with expertise in this area offered insight into the “unseen” racism, and unacknowledged white privilege that exists in Minnesota, as well as the rest of our country.
From the Judges
Powerful, timely writing. High marks for taking on such a delicate subject, and treating it with both care and daring.
